Adjustable truss pad



July 6, 1943., 1 H, MASON 2,323,827

ADJUSTABLE TRUss PAD Filed D60. 5, 1940 w, n s

Zr-maden @linea/ am Patented July 6, 1943 ADJUSTABLE TRUSS PAD James H. Mason, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Chesterman Leeland Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 5, 1940, Serial No. 368,723

(Cl. 12S-116) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to truss pads of the variable type embodying adjustable mechanism adapted to change the elevation and convexity of the face of the pad with respect to the plane of the base of the pad, tol suit hernias of different kinds, magnitudes and locations, and physical characteristics peculiar to individuals afflicted with hernia.

The object of the present invention is to provide an adjusting mechanism which will be totally encased by the pad and which will afford a maximum degree of elevation in a pad of minimum normal thickness.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the pad;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 2 2, Fig. l;

Fig, 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is a detached sectional perspective view of the base of the pad;

Fig. 5 is an inverted detached perspective view of the body of the pad;

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view of the foundation plate for the adjusting mechanism encased within the pad;

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of the operating elements of the adjusting mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the adjustable pad bulging element.

As shown in the drawing, the body I of the truss pad is normally of elliptical -oontour in plan, as shown in Fig. l, semi-elliptical contour in longitudinal sectional, elevation, as shown in Fig. 2, and semi-circular in transverse crosssection, as shown in Fig. 3.

The body I may be composed of any suitable flexible material, such for example, as sponge rubber with a smooth or spongy outer face.

The body I includes a planar surface 2 to which is secured, as by cementin'g, vulcanizing, etc., a relatively rigid base plate 3, which may be composed of solid rubber or any other suitable material of a rigid or semi-rigid character.

The base plate 3, preferably, is provided with Cil between two axially spaced collars 9, 9 which are rigidly secured to or formed as integral parts of the elevator screw l. The annular groove `8 is adapted to receive the anchor post 6 between the -collars A9, 9 to prevent axial movement of the screw 'I relative to the foundation plate 5 While permitting free rotary motion of the screw.

The anchor post S is provided with a recess Ill extending downwardly from the top of the post to receive the portion of the screw 'I4 lyin between the collars 9, 9.

The portions of the screw l lying to the op*- posite sides respectively of the annular groove 8 are oppositely threaded, right and left respec# tively, as indicated at 'Ia and lb, for the reception of traveling blocks IIa, IIb respectively, which are provided with correspondingly thread# ed bores I2a and IZbi respectively.

The traveling blocks IIa, IIb ride on the upper surface of the foundation plate 5, which prevents these blocks from rotating with the elevator screw 'I, when the latter is turned jas hereinafter described. t

The blocks IIa, IIb` are, slotted at I3u, I3b respectively, for the reception of relatively spread ends of 4a pair of elevator links Illa, I4b, having their opposite ends pivotally joined together by a common rivet, screw, etc., I5. The spread ends of the links Ida, Illb are pivotally connected to the blocks IIa, lib respectively, by pivot pins I6 (Fig. 3).

The ends of the'links ma, Mb, which are pivotally joined together by the rivet I5, project into a slot Il formed in the underside of an elevator or bulging block 2D (Fig. 8), which fits more or less snugly into a recess I9 formed in the underside of the body I (Fig. 5). f

The recess I9 in the body I is extended endwise at Iga and Ib to provide working clearance for the elevator blocks IIa and IIb respectively, and the adjacent ends of the screw 'I.

The recess extension ISb communicates with the exterior of the body I at the one end thereof, through a channel 2| into which the end of a shallow recess 4, in which is seated a rigid ,n foundation plate 5, preferably composed of a suitable metal of the non-corrosive type.

Secured to or formed as an integral part of the foundation plate 5 is an upstanding anchor post 6 (Fig. 6) for an elevator screw 'I (Fig. 7), which is provided with an annular groove 8 intermediate its opposite ends.

The groove 8, in the present instance, is formed the screw 'I, which is provided with a driver slot 22, projects.

The iexible material of the body I is reinforced within the operating channel 2I by a strip 23 of relatively tougher material, such as solid ilexible rubber, which may be secured to the body I or, as in the present case, to the foundation plate 3 as shown in Fig. 4.

Normally the exposed or body-contacting arcuately contoured facevof the body I of the pad assumes the semi-ellipsoidalform of Figs. l. 2

and 3. In certain forms of hernia or in certain locations of a hernia, it is desirable to bulge the central area of the face of the pad beyond the normal contour thereof. Under such circumstances, the end of a small screw driver is inserted through the channel 2| and engaged in the slot 22 of the elevator screw l. By turning the screw 'I in one direction, the traveling blocks I Ia and IIb are caused to move simultaneously toward the anchor post 6. In so doing, the degree of the included angle formed by the links I4a, Mb about the axis of the rivet I5 by which the links are pivotally connected together is reduced, causing the connected ends of the links to move in a direction away from the foundation plate 5 in a line perpendicular to the plane of the plate 5. This moves the bulging block accordingly.

The elevation of the bulging block 20 distorts the body I from its normal semi-ellipsoidal shape to a modied form in which the central area of the face of the pad protrudes in a more sharply curved formation beyond the normal arcuate contour of the face of the pad. By carefully turning the elevator screw 'I in one direction or the other, the extent of the protrusion or bulge may be accurately determined to suit the case at hand.

The links Ita, I4b, in conjunction with the traveling blocks IIa, IIb, and the screw 'I, produce a toggle action which provides a maximum amount of strength with elements of light weight and small compass, and further provides for a maximum amount of elevation from a pad of normal minimum thickness, without exposing any of the operating parts beyond the outlines of the body I and its base plate 3.

It will be noted that the axis of the screw I is oifsct laterally from the plane of the links Ida, Mb, which later coincides with the central longitudinal vertical plane of the body I. The oli"- setting of the screw relative to the operating plane of the links Ita, I 4b permits the pivots I6 of the links to be placed closely adjacent the plane of the foundation plate 5. Thus, the common connecting pivot I5 of the links Illa, Illb may be lowered into a position closely adjacent the screw 'l when the links are fully extended longitudinally of the body I, and still provide an included angle between the links suiiiciently sharp to provide easy adjustment pf the screw 1 to raise the bulging block 2G relative to the foundation plate 5. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the normal thickness of the pad to a minimum and still provide a maximum bulging, or increase in thickness Without having any of the operating parts exposed beyond the outline of the pad.

I claim;

l. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element confined in a recess formed in said pad for variably distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface` a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw, a pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, and means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagement with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw.

2. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element confined in a recess formed in said pad for variably distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw, a pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, and means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagement with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw, said links lying in a plane perpendicular to said base plate and substantially coincident with central longitudinal coinciding planes of said pad and said distorting element.

3. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element confined in a recess formed in said pad for variably distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw, a pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, and means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagement with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw, said links lying in a plane perpendicular to said base plate and substantially coincident with central longitudinal coinciding planes of said pad and said distorting element, and said screw being disposed in laterally offset relation to said coinciding planes.

4. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element confined in a recess Y formed in said pad for variably distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw, a pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, and means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagement with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw, said links lying in a plane perpendicular to said base plate and substantially coincident with central longitudinal coinciding planes of said pad and said distorting element, and said screw being disposed in laterally oiset relation to said coinciding planes with one end of said screw projecting into a channel affording communication between said recess and the exterior of said pad.

5. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element confined in a recess formed in said pad for variably distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw. a

pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagement with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw, said links lying in a plane perpendicular to said base plate `and substantially coincident with central longitudinal coinciding planes of said pad and said distorting element, and said screw being disposed in laterally oifset relation to said coinciding planes with one end of said screW projecting into a channel affording communication between said recess and the exterior of said pad, and means carried by said base plate for anchoring said screw against axial movement While permitting rotary motion thereof.

6. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element confined in a recess formed in said pad for variably distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw, a pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagement with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw, said links lying in a plane perpendicular to said base plate and substantially coincident with central longitudinal coinciding planes of said pad and said distorting element, said screw being disposed in laterally offset relation to said coinciding planes with one end of said screw projecting into a channel affording communication between said recess and the exterior of said pad, a foundation plate carried by said base plate, and an anchorage for said screw rigidly carried by said foundation plate to prevent axial movement of said screw while permitting rotation thereof.

7. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element confined in a recess formed in said pad for variably distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw, a

pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagementl with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw, said links lying in a plane perpendicular to said base plate and substantially coincident with central longitudinal coinciding planes of said pad and said distorting element, said screw being disposed in laterally offset relation to said coinciding planes with one end of said screw projecting into a channel affording communication between said recess and the exterior of said pad, a foundation plate carried by said base plate, and an anchorage for said screw rigidly carried by said foutidation plate intermediate said traveling blocks to prevent axial movement of said screw while permitting rotation thereof.

8. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface, an element conned in a recess formed in said pad for variabiy distorting said surface, a base plate closing said recess on the side of said pad opposite to that occupied by said surface, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on said base plate parallel to the plane thereof, a pair of traveling blocks on the reversely threaded portions respectively of said screw, a pair of oppositely inclined links pivotally connected to said blocks respectively at one end of each link, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links together with said connected ends in engagement with said distorting element for moving the latter perpendicular to said base plate by rotation of said screw, said links lying in a plane perpendicular to said base plate and substantially coincident with central longitudinal coinciding planes of said pad and said distorting element, said screw being disposed in laterally offset relation to said coinciding planes with one end of said screw projecting into a channel affording communication between said recess and the exterior of said pad, a foundation plate carried by said base plate, and an anchorage for said screw rigidly carried by said foundation plats to prevent axial movement of said screw while permitting rotation thereof, said foundation plate being disposed in a plane parallel to said base plate and affording a sliding bearing surface for said traveling blocks.

9. A truss pad having a normal body-contacting surface on one side and a recess formed in the opposite side thereof, a base plate closing said recess, a foundation plate on said base plate adjacent said recess, a reversely threaded screw rotatably mounted on and anchored against relative movement to said foundation plate with one end of the screw projecting into a channel affording communication between the interior of the recess and the exterior of the pad, a pair of traveling blocks slidably mounted on said foundation plate and threaded onto the reversely threaded portionsV respectively of said screw, a pair of links, each pivoted at one end to one of said blocks respectively, means pivotally connecting the opposite ends of said links with the links inclined in opposite directions therefrom, and an element mounted in said recess and slotted to receive said connected ends of said links for distorting said surface by rotation of said screw.

JAMES I-I. MASON. 

